LETTER: Real patriotism

Published: Monday, July 22, 2013 at 10:00 AM.

Republicans and Fox News love nothing more than baseless obsessions. The most recent one has been “White House scandals.”
It turns out that Mitt Romney got the president’s words wrong about Benghazi in a key debate, Rep. Darrell Issa lied about Ambassador Pickering’s willingness to testify, and ABC News falsely reported the wording in an administration internal document on the subject.
The IRS investigation has shown no improper activity by the administration, and has shown that liberal as well as conservative organizations applying for special tax-exempt status were closely scrutinized. Groups bearing the “tea party” or “patriot” banner have been overtly politically partisan, their proliferation is fully documented, and oversight for adherence to the law is well deserved.
A Fox personality reported that the United States has a covert operative within the North Korean government, and the administration has attempted to determine the source of the story under the authority of the Patriot Act. Republicans eagerly and overwhelmingly supported these and even more intrusive measures when they were conducted illegally (without proper warrants or congressional oversight) under the Bush administration.
Instead of fretting over their image and staging recurring, futile attempts to overturn the Affordable Care Act, Republicans should show a little humanity and interest in governance, as well as some real patriotism for a change, by:
— Passing immigration reform.
— Extending lower rates for student loans.
— Stopping voter-suppression legislation.
— Staying out of women’s health and reproductive decisions.
—Funding VA programs and hospitals fully.
— Getting off the back of labor.
— Ending sequestration now.

— DWIGHT W. POLK
Niceville

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Republicans and Fox News love nothing more than baseless obsessions. The most recent one has been “White House scandals.”
It turns out that Mitt Romney got the president’s words wrong about Benghazi in a key debate, Rep. Darrell Issa lied about Ambassador Pickering’s willingness to testify, and ABC News falsely reported the wording in an administration internal document on the subject.
The IRS investigation has shown no improper activity by the administration, and has shown that liberal as well as conservative organizations applying for special tax-exempt status were closely scrutinized. Groups bearing the “tea party” or “patriot” banner have been overtly politically partisan, their proliferation is fully documented, and oversight for adherence to the law is well deserved.
A Fox personality reported that the United States has a covert operative within the North Korean government, and the administration has attempted to determine the source of the story under the authority of the Patriot Act. Republicans eagerly and overwhelmingly supported these and even more intrusive measures when they were conducted illegally (without proper warrants or congressional oversight) under the Bush administration.
Instead of fretting over their image and staging recurring, futile attempts to overturn the Affordable Care Act, Republicans should show a little humanity and interest in governance, as well as some real patriotism for a change, by:
— Passing immigration reform.
— Extending lower rates for student loans.
— Stopping voter-suppression legislation.
— Staying out of women’s health and reproductive decisions.
—Funding VA programs and hospitals fully.
— Getting off the back of labor.
— Ending sequestration now.